From: To: Subject: [IGHS] Newsletter, May 16, 2004 Deming, New Mexico Date: Sunday, May 16, 2004 1:11 PM ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Remove Link To Unsubscribe from Newsletter: Click on Reply To or send email to ighs-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com for an automatic removal from this newsletter. Mission Statement: The Ghostweb is the official Web Site of the International Ghost Hunters Society. Membership in the IGHS is always FREE. The IGHS is dedicated and committed to the research, documentation, education, and investigation of ghostly phenomena recorded through EVP, digital, film and video photography. The IGHS is a society of ghost believers, ghost hunters, and ghost researchers with over 14,000 members in 87 countries worldwide. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ International Ghost Hunters Society Newsletter May 16, from Deming, New Mexico Dr. Dave’s Notes: Registration is on a fast track for our Alamo Ghost Conference in June. We have registrations from Ohio, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, and of course, the great state of Texas, so far. We do have limited seating so be sure to register early or risk not being able to attend. We are planning some exciting events, excellent speakers who follow the IGHS Standards and Protocols in their field investigations and after the sessions are over, join us for some EVP investigations. Martin Leal offers his walking ghost tour for those who would like to experience the local haunts in and around the Alamo. We will also have a special Inner Circle Investigation on Friday night for those who are experienced in ghost hunting. We do offer group and military discounts so drop us an email for more information on the discounts. This is one ghost conference that you will not want to miss. No psychic mumbo jumbo, we offer the straight scientific approach to ghost investigations. What you learn, you can apply in the investigations with us after the end of the sessions. Our last conference in San Antonio in 1999 yielded some excellent results. We visited the famed Railroad Tracks and watched as the vehicles rolled over the tracks. When we departed for one of the old Spanish Missions, two of our conference members arrived before anyone else. While waiting for the rest of us to show up, the driver who was a skeptic turned to her left and saw a large green orb at her window. The large green orb lifted and flew over the top of the car and dropped down to the passenger window. The passenger was an IGHS member and she believed in ghost, the large green orb reinforced the reality of ghosts to her and a believer out of the driver. Incidentally, the parking lot of this Spanish Mission was originally the cemetery for Indians. Given the attitude of whites toward Indians, I suspect that when they converted the cemetery to a parking lot, they ignored the graves. We have recorded thousands of ghost voices since starting our travels, ghost voices from all across America and in Central America. We have been able to compare the theme of these ghost voices and discovered some amazing results that we will be sharing in our Alamo Ghost Conference. The dead are alive and well. We were not limited to recording ghost voices from a small local or regional area, but recorded our ghost voices from abandoned ghost towns, old mining towns, historical buildings, Civil War battlefields, Revolutionary War cemeteries, western pioneer cemeteries, old military forts and camps, Anasazi ruins, Hopi ruins, Mayan temples ruins, and on Indian reservations. We do not trespass on the property we investigate. We respect postings and observe the law. We research the history of an area and correlate this history with the ghost voices we record. We follow a scientific approach that is repeatable by anyone who follows our techniques that we freely share with everyone. We have twenty-eight years of combined experience in this field. We have seen other ghost hunters enter this field with the intentions of becoming rich and famous by stepping on people and allowing a small amount of knowledge to inflate their egos. In time, these ghost hunters’ falls by the wayside, their commitments was not in furthering the knowledge about ghosts, but were self-serving. Some ghost hunters promoted fear and scare tactics to attract people who pay to attend their investigations, while relying upon Hollywood hype and bogus accounts of hauntings. These charlatans and fakes are not ghost hunters, but simply out to make money off of the innocent people who sign up for their scare investigations. We get to see the best and the worst in people as we travel across America. Overall, we see honest and conscious ghost hunters endeavoring to explore the spirit realm, of understanding life after death and of coming to an understanding that death is not an end, but the beginning of a great new adventure for all of us. We work with people who are facing death or who have loved ones pass from this life and have questions and concerns. We do not charge for our services or our counseling, this is what we do to help others understand what we have discovered in our search for truth. We teach that it is spirituality that is important, and not the congregational rituals. We get hate mail from people who dictate to us that if we just accept Jesus we will be saved. We respond back and say, “save from what,” and they say from hell, but in our twenty-eight years of researching ghosts, we have never heard the ghosts speak of hell or heaven, but we have had a few say, “ the church lied.” What is spirituality? We believe that spirituality is developing a personal relationship with God whether we envision God as a male or female or just as a higher consciousness. It is not important that this higher power be named or be identified as being associated with a particular religion. When it comes time to meet our Maker, we do not believe God will ask us what church we belonged to, or how much money we donated, or what offices within the church we served, but how did we treat our fellow man, those who were hurting, did we try to help them. We will have a life review at that time, we will see and feel everything we have done to everyone and feel what he or she has suffered by our actions. Regrets, yes, we all have them, but if we have not learned from those regrets how we can say that we have grown and used them as our stepping stones. Spirituality is the understanding that the dead and the living are inner-connected in this life. Our souls are eternal, we move from one chapter to another chapter in the book of existence. We need to pass through the refiners fire, to purge off the slag and purify our souls. This is not just a metaphor, but is what spirituality is all about. We must rid our lives of limitations imposed by man and allow the inspiration and guidance that comes from this higher source to guide us through this life. Ghost hunting helps us to learn about spirituality, and in turn, helps us to develop a closer personal relationship with this higher source we call God. While it is true that some ghost hunters will not find spirituality in ghost hunting, to them it is simply a hobby, like fishing or hunting. It can be so much more if we listen to the voices of the dead speak and realize that there is life after death, the dead are not damned or cursed, but struggling with overcoming emotional anchors the same as we struggle with them. Some spirits return to be near loved ones during times of crises, they have no emotional anchors, but elect to return to comfort loved ones. For us, the label ghost or spirit means one and the same, just as saying mankind really means man kind and woman kind, or saying human to represent men, women and children. Happy trails. Dr. Sharon’s Notes: Things can happen around a home that tickles a person to the point of laughing out loud. When living in an RV, funny things can occur too, like stepping in the dogs’ water dish and one foot making an odd squishing sound when walking. Because of the significant reduction in space in an RV, even the small events can be a cause for a good belly laugh. Occasionally, though we have gotten much better with fewer mishaps, something happens that is worthy of sharing. Such is the case this week. The septic system in an RV, especially the older models, is unique. It is similar to hauling a port-a-potty around and requires draining, cleaning, and deodorizing regularly. This is certainly essential during the summer months. The heat will really do a number on a holding tank with the temperatures up in the 90’s. I think that you probably get my drift on the subject. I was sitting at the table answering email one morning while Dave busied himself coming in and going out of the RV. He came in and stood by the table, announcing that he might need my help in a minute. I knew that he was draining the holding tank but he usually does not require any help. It was probably close to a minute later when sure enough; he walked in holding a water hose with a three-foot plastic attachment on the end. He looked at me, holding out the hose for me to take from him. I removed myself from the computer to assist in what looked to be a major project. Dave simply stated that I just needed to hold it for him until he returned from turning on the water outside. As he was leaving, he said that the black knob on the side controlled the flow of water and would turn off the water, if needed. Like a flash, he was out the door and there I stood with the hose and attachment in my hands, thinking that it sure felt heavy. Alone in the RV, I stood holding the hose over the toilet bowl, making sure the end of that long attachment rested in the bowl. Feeling self-assured, I reflected back on the email I was answering. The morning was gorgeous and the soft cool breeze coming in the windows felt so good. Boo was outside with Dave and the morning silence was as refreshing as the breeze. It was a perfect start for what would be a good day. My thoughts were interrupted by a gurgling sound coming up the hose. I still had the nozzle in the potty and that was good. I am sure most of you know how quickly things can change from good to bad or bad to worse. It just so happens, the on surge of water was far more than I had expected and the pressure was so high, I could hardly manage the hose and the awkward plastic tube. It felt like a mini version of a fireman inexperienced with holding a real fire hose for the first time. Though the nozzle was still in place, I had not considered the high water pressure or the splash back when the water hit the side of the bowl. “Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.” I remembered the black knob but when I let go with one hand, I totally lost control of this wild thing and the splashing got far worse. Water was hitting the walls, ceiling, and everywhere that should not have been wet, like the toilet paper roll. I tried pushing and pulling on the knob but it was impossible to stop this wild water hose that was out of control. It was not too long before I realized it would not have done any good to try to further work with the knob that controlled the flow of water. The entire three feet of plastic broke free and lay on the floor, useless and dead. Water continued to pump through the hose unlike anything I had ever seen and by this time, I was soaked to the skin. Time dragged by while waiting for Dave to return to take over the hose and see what a wonderful job I had done in his absence. Like driving through a car wash with the windows down, the tiny bathroom had gotten a good soaking. There was not a lot of water in the potty but everything else was soaked as I wailed, “Daaavidddd, HELP!” Once he returned and saw what was happening, he took control, firmly gripping the wild water hose to finish up the job he had started. As I stood there water logged, he kindly told me he would clean up all the water. The question he asked me remains unanswered even today. What happened? It was only later, after mourning the loss of his plastic attachment that he realized an important aspect that he had not considered earlier. Most of the folks in the RV Park had left, thus, the water pressure had increased far more than either one of us had expected. We had a water pressure gage on the water input side of the RV that limited the pressure to 40 to 60 pounds, but the other hose had no pressure regulator, so the full force came through the hose. He did answer one question for me though. The black knob worked like a lever and had to be turned upward to work. It worked as long as a person knew how to use it. The shower I got from all the back splash cooled me off for the hot day ahead. Like most unexpected events, we laughed long and hard about it. When traveling and encountering hot weather, we have learned it is best not to carry chocolate bars with us, as they tend to melt. Even keeping them refrigerated, the heat will take them down to puddle chocolate very quickly. We found a new way to carry chocolate candy this year. Scoops and Bites are a real good way to enjoy chocolate when traveling. I actually learned about the hazards of carrying chocolate bars one day when Dave gave me a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Little did I know where he had laid it and in my haste, I sat on it. Uh, it is not real appetizing to see the outer package of candy, flat, knowing where it has been, then consider eating what is inside. Scoops and Bites were definitely the answer for us. Or so we though. Experience is definitely the best teacher. It was a hot afternoon with little to do and little desire to do anything, when Dave and I decided to put on a video and just relax. Dave popped a movie into the VCR, walked over to the refrigerator, and retrieved the cold bag of Reese’s Bites. We settled in to watch the movie. A little snack is always nice when watching movies. I like to crochet or put together jewelry when we watch television, so I was busily making Carnelian necklaces. The bed serves as a couch during the day so we try to be careful not to drop food on the bedding. We watched the movie, ate the Bites, and when the movie was over everything looked find. No chocolate in the bed and the fronts of our shirts were still clean. Pride goeth before a fall and it is best not to get too cocky when things look good. We talked for a moment before Dave started to get up to take the video out of the VCR. I noticed as he started to stand that he had a spot on his shorts by the pocket. It looked like mouse puke or something and I pointed it out to him. Looking at it he realized it was a little bit of peanut butter and chocolate. There was nothing on the bed so we figured he had dropped a little piece of candy that had melted in the heat. Unfortunately, the story does not end there and our notion about the little bit of chocolate was wrong. As Dave had sat, entranced by the movie, he had dropped one of the little chocolate balls. That would have been the end of it except Dave had shifted his position to get comfortable during the movie. In the process of dropping and shifting, the little ball had rolled into his pocket. The little spot on the outside was nothing compared to what had taken place inside the pocket. He reached his fingers into the pocket and gave me a look that caused instant laughter. As Dave spent the next few minutes trying to retrieve items from his pocket, the verbal commentary was hilarious and I laughed until my sides ached. The next day Dave took Boo out for her morning walk. As he walked, he said he felt something hard around the hem of his shirt. When he looked to see what it was, he found chocolate hardened on the inside of the shirt, a reminder of the previous day. Once again, he found himself trying to clean the chocolate off. As if that was not enough, later that afternoon when we went out for our daily walk and rock collecting in the desert, Dave pulled out a plastic bag from his pocket to carry the rocks in and discovered that it too had a coating of chocolate on it. Regardless of the size or shape, chocolate will melt in the heat. If you tend to drop food without realizing it, if you happen to be on the road, you might want to consider taking peanuts or jellybeans. IGHS San Antonio Ghost Conference on June 19th: Dave & Sharon are hosting their annual 8th Ghost Conference in San Antonio, Texas on June 19 at the Menger Hotel. The Conference for the third Saturday in June will focus on the ghosts of the Alamo, the Menger Hotel, and San Antonio, ghost photography, EVP recordings, and EVP evaluations. No psychics or mediums will be speaking, as we are a scientific based organization focusing on using scientific tools for recording and documenting the existence of ghosts. Group and military discounts are available. All events are within walking distance of your haunted hotel and meeting place. Special room rates of $95 at the Menger, just ask for the International Ghost Hunters Special, as long as rooms are available. We will have limited seating due to the meeting room limitations, so do not delay registering with Dave & Sharon. Check out http://www.ghostweb.com/alamo1.html. Digital Ghost Photography Handbook: Are you confused about orbs? What are dust orbs and how do they relate to real ghost orbs? Read our 20 page thermal bound book or download the PDF book and discover how digital photography is the wave of the future. We have been using digital since 1994 and we share with the reader, which are the best digital cameras on the market today. We also share what to look for when purchasing a digital camera and provide some protocols to avoid falling into the dust orb trap. Check it out at http://www.ghostweb.com/booklet2.html. How to Record and Analyze Ghost Voices: Traditional techniques for recording ghost voices are outdated and far less successful. Sharon and I have an accumulated 28 years of experience in ghost research and in evaluating ghost tools for field investigations. Along the way, we have discovered many hidden techniques that enable us to be tremendously successful in recording the voices of the dead. Our new book will disclose our time tested techniques in a step by step procedure that is easy to understand and to apply. Check out the book at http://www.ghostweb.com/booklet.html. We ship via Priority Mail through the Post Office, not the slow boat to China known as Media Mail that takes several weeks to arrive at an address. CD Version Home Study Courses: We offer two CD versions, one with the Home Study Course in PDF format that can be read by any hardware or software with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, version 4 or higher. This option is for those using the Mac Operating system or PC computer with an operating system that is not Windows based. The CD version is for PC computers using Wins95, Wins98, WindowsMe, and WindowsXP. The added features of this CD version, includes color photographs of spiritual orbs, spirit energy ectoplasm, a full body apparition and samples of ordinary airborne dust particles we call dust orbs that fool so many people. The separate Photo Analysis CD is now a part of the CD version. In addition, a printed copy can be made from CD, as in the printed version. We pay the shipping charges for Priority Mail in the USA, International Air Mail to Canada and for an extra ten dollars, we will ship it by Global Priority Mail to Europe and Asia. More information is available at http://www.ghostweb.com/mainhsc.html. Fulfill your dreams: Magic Dimensions We all have dreams that we wished that could be our reality, but we do not know how to make that wish come true for us. In our book, we teach about the magic of having your dreams fulfilled. We show the reader how to open a doorway for a new reality where your dream will come true. Many claim this process is a miracle, but Quantum Mechanics teaches us that our miracles are simply an application of this weird science. Out book can show you how to create that miracle! We share with the reader the magical techniques that create the miracle we seek after in life. Magic Dimensions may be one of the most important books that will change people’s lives. Visit our web site at http://www.ghostweb.com/magic1.html for more info on ordering the book. The ISBN number is 0-595-22032-0 and can be ordered from any bookstore or online at major dot.com bookstores. The online e-book can be downloaded immediately. IGHS T-shirts Available: We are pleased to announce that we have our new IGHS light blue 50/50 screen printed T-shirts available. The two sided printing has a large full size on the back and a smaller size image on the front, over the left pocket area. Limited sizes are available ranging from XL to 2XL. Check them out at http://www.ghostweb.com/tshirt1.html. Life Time IGHS Member Certificate: Instead of renewing every year, IGHS members can now purchase a Life Time Membership for $60 or a Life Time Membership and Life Time Clip ID Badge for $75. This is available through PayPal and through our online Secure Order Form. IGHS ID Badges for Investigations: We have received many requests for some kind of Identification Badge to wear while conducting field investigations. We have created a laminated ID Badge with a metal clip that snaps onto your shirt or other piece of clothing. It says that you are a Registered Ghost Hunter/Paranormal Investigator in good standing with the International Ghost Hunters Society and it has our signatures and web address. Order the ID Badge at http://www.ghostweb.com/id_badge.html. Password Memberships: We offer a special membership in our Ghostweb Ghost Galleries. Due to the size of these ghost galleries, we have to limit the number of people because of the bandwidth consumed by downloading the photos, spirit voices, and ghost videos in this area. If you want to view over 9,000 ghost photos, EVPs, and videos, check out our membership program at http://www.ghostweb.com/pass.html. IGHS Membership Certificates: The IGHS offers a beautiful Membership Certificate. The membership certificate is valid for one year Check it out at http://www.ghostweb.com/memcert.html for more information. New ABC Network Show: The Swap The Swap is an exciting new series that celebrates the modern American family. Each episode involves two families and a fun twist: the Moms of each household swap places for ten days to experience how other families run their lives. If you are a two-parent family with kids and would love an adventure call now to be part of this Ground-breaking show, email: theswap@rdfmedia.com Kind regards, Dave, Sharon & BooBoo International Ghost Hunters Society Currently in Deming, New Mexico Copyrighted 2004 by Dr. Dave Oester All Rights Reserved. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Our next book is spooky! American Hauntings Investigated, due out in August 2004 Alamo Ghost Conference -- June 19, 2004 -- San Antonio, Texas http://www.ghostweb.com/alamo1.html Dave Oester, Ph.D., DD. Sharon Gill, Ph.D., International Ghost Hunters Society 713 W Spruce, PMB 715 Deming, NM 88030 Web URL: http://www.ghostweb.com Email: MagicDimensions@aol.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~